This story contains spoilers from Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1.
Criminal Minds: Evolution promised fans a jam-packed season full of twists and turns — and boy, did it deliver. Since the former CBS procedural drama got rebooted on Paramount+, viewers dove right back into the world of the BAU.
Over the course of 10 episodes, folks saw beloved FBI agents return, like Joe Mantegna‘s SSA David Rossi and Paget Brewster as unit chief Emily Prentiss. There were also moving family storylines, including one from A.J. Cook‘s SSA Jennifer Jareau. Aisha Tyler‘s Dr. Tara Lewis and Kirsten Vangsness‘s Penelope Garcia dealt with relationship problems, while Adam Rodriguez‘s SSA Luke Alvez acted as support for his fellow teammates. And all the while, the BAU followed through as they hunted down Sicarius, portrayed by season-long guest star Zach Gilford.
But like its predecessor, Criminal Minds: Evolution isn’t over yet. The show is set to return for season 2, promising more drama. What’s more, the season finale left fans wondering what exactly will happen now that Sicarius may be involved in something more sinister. Here’s what to know about Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2, including release date, cast, news, updates, spoilers and how to watch.
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When is the release date for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2?
On January 12, longtime viewers received the ultimate surprise when it was announced that Criminal Minds: Evolution got renewed for season 2 on Paramount+. The show’s official Instagram later shared a photo featuring Rossi, Prentiss and Tara in the elevator of Quantico. At the bottom of the picture, the show wrote the word “Renewed,” further confirming the news.
“Wheels up for another season!!! 🎉,” the show’s account wrote, referencing the iconic catchphrase from the original CBS series.
As soon as the news broke, Tanya Giles, chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming, immediately had a statement about season 2.
“We’re thrilled to bring even more twisted storylines to our loyal fans of Criminal Minds: Evolution with the order of another season,” she said in a statement, per Deadline. “The series has always been a consistent top performer for Paramount+ and fans have quickly embraced this new season with its more serialized elements. There are still many dark twists and turns yet to come for the BAU this season and we can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store.”
So, is there a release date for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2? Not yet. But actress Paget Brewster shared an exciting update about the filming schedule. “Guys, we are coming back so fast it’ll make your head spin. Because of you! We start shooting in 2 months, thank you, thank you, thank you!!” she tweeted on February 9.
At this pace, Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 could premiere in time for Thanksgiving Day 2023, especially if the next installment sticks to its 10-episode length.
Who is in the Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 cast?
Based on the events of the season 1 finale, here is who we think will be in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2:
- Joe Mantegna as SSA David Rossi
- Paget Brewster as BAU unit chief Emily Prentiss
- A.J. Cook as SSA Jennifer Jareau
- Kirsten Vangsness as tech analyst Penelope Garcia
- Aisha Tyler as Dr. Tara Lewis
- Adam Rodriguez as SSA Luke Alvez
Additionally, fans mostly likely can expect Josh Stewart to return as JJ’s husband, Detective Will LaMontagne Jr. Given how the couple’s family life is a prominent storyline in Criminal Minds: Evolution season 1, it’s also likely that A.J.’s sons Mekhai Andersen and Phoenix Andersen will reprise their roles as her sons, Henry and Michael.
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Are there any spoilers for Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2?
When asked about how she felt over the big news that Criminal Minds: Evolution would be back with new episodes, actress A.J. Cook shared that the entire cast was ecstatic over the season renewal. What’s more, they actually anticipated the news longer than fans knew about.
“We were all kind of waiting for that news to drop,” she exclusively told Good Housekeeping. “We’re thrilled that they have made the official announcement and we can start moving forward.”
As it turns out, a lot has been happening behind the scenes, like show writers getting right to work. “I know they’re already in there, coming up with some story ideas for the second season,” A.J. added. “It’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
She continued: “Erica Messer, our showrunner, she’s so good at what she does. She’s got a plan and I can’t wait to see it all come together. We’re going to do what we always do — we’re going to take you on a crazy, crazy wild ride with lots of twists and turns.”
Is Matthew Gray Gubler’s Dr. Spencer Reid coming back to Criminal Minds: Evolution?
In February 2022, Deadline reported that longtime Criminal Minds cast member Matthew Gray Gubler wasn’t returning as resident BAU genius Dr. Spencer Reid. When the show addressed the character’s whereabouts, viewers learned that Spencer got reassigned to a top secret mission with a different FBI unit. But because the show continues to reference him, fans continue to wonder why Spencer Reid isn’t in the reboot.
When showrunner Erica Messer was asked this question by TVLine in September 2022, she acknowledged that while Reid isn’t onscreen, he certainly won’t be lost in the shuffle.
“It’s a little bit of a mystery what Reid and Simmons are up to, but they’re certainly not forgotten,” she told the outlet at the time. “Dr. Reid’s and I believe Matt Simmons’ desks are still there, still have stuff on it.”
A.J. also gave details on Matthew’s potential return when she spoke with Good Housekeeping in January. She revealed that he’s not only seen the latest episodes, but he may be missing out on all the crimes the BAU tackles.
“He has [watched the show] and he’s super excited. He thinks they’re great,” she told Good Housekeeping. “He wants to do it. He wants to be involved. It’s just the timing hasn’t been right yet … He would absolutely come back if the timing could work.”
A.J. and fans aren’t the only ones keeping their fingers crossed. Speaking with TVLine about Matthew and Criminal Minds alum Daniel Henney starring on the show again, showrunner Erica is also thinking positively.
“It’d be amazing. I’m not giving up hope on that. But I do know that everybody has these lives outside of our show, and that’s the tricky part,” she told the outlet.
Erica continued: “We shoot [10 episodes] in such a short little window, whereas before with a 22 order and nine months of shooting I’d feel confident to say, ‘We’ll find a way to get them in.’ But we don’t have that [larger window], and they’re off doing other things.”
Where can I watch and stream Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2?
When Criminal Minds: Evolution season 2 is available for streaming, you can watch new episodes air each week on Paramount+. Until then, you can stay busy by re-watching the first season along with the original 15 seasons of Criminal Minds on the platform.
When the time comes to stream new episodes of Criminal Minds: Evolution, you want to make sure you’re set up with an account on Paramount+. If you don’t have one yet, you can start off with a 7-day free trial before opting into one of the plans, which start at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Once you have that ready, head on over to the show’s title page on the Paramount+ official website or the Paramount+ app while on-the-go.
Should you not want to stream Criminal Minds: Evolution and just watch the original CBS drama, Paramount+ isn’t the only place to stream it. Hulu has the show available on its website, which you can access with plans that start at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. Just click on the show’s official page on its website or the Hulu app.
Editorial Assistant
As the entertainment and news editorial assistant for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.